Love

Dahlia DAW-ling

She has her Daddy's blue eyes and weighs 14 lbs and 14 ounces.

At the beginning of this month I had a 3 month old and a 3 year old. Now I have a 4 month old and a 4 year old!!!

To see the inspiration for my mushroom cake and cupcakes go here . . .Soren thought it was pretty neat.

We had a great time with family and Soren's aunt Bridget taught him how to play "Froggy's in the Milk Pan and Can't Get Out". . . and we ate way too much cake! Note to self: Don't plan a Birthday party for a 4 year old in the evening. By the end of the party it was HIS party and he could cry if he wanted to. A little too much sugar goes a long way!

He got a superman pajama outfit from his Grandma Pat and when he put it on he asked "now can I save the day?" I told him "yes" and he said, "for real?"--it was so funny.

Peace, love and happiness. . . peace out.

This morning I taught a children's creative dance class. Before leaving I fed Dahlia and then was back again in about two and a half hours to feed her. (Breath a sigh of relief). . . All was smooth and it was a good feeling to come home and see dad and the kids all happy and doing their thing: enjoying life. I was able to get payed for my taxi to and from work which is a must when I'm on a tight schedule feeding my princess. Which brings me to my reason for this post titled "Ode to Women". I had just finished class and was standing in the grey with bits of rain falling on my head and coat. A mother with two children came out the door and because of the rain the mother was trying to put her youngest in the stroller with the rain cover while her other daughter walked ahead. The little one was not having it. She slid herself out of the stroller onto the pavement. The mother, obviously stressed, said something and then picked her daughter up in one arm and pushed the stroller with the other arm and off they went. I've so been there. I felt I knew her in that moment. I was, at that particular time, without my children and free from the extra worry and stress yet I felt her battle of gathering her chicks and getting where she needed to go. She was a warrior woman in that moment and an example to me that I can do this and women all over the world do. Regardless of diverse cultures and anything that may separate us we are bound as women. Women. This is a powerful word to me. And human. we are bound as humans. I was brought back to the book I read recently-- Siddhartha by Herman Hess. I love this book. The message is so powerful and beautiful and I wont say anymore because I hope you read it. At the Maryhill Integration Network the women wrote a song that was performed in their last piece "Songs of Home, Songs of Hope" that contained a similar message. The chorus, written by Rema (an amazing woman) sings "no matter race, no matter faith, we're all human, we are the same" and it touches me each time the women sing it. For me, the purpose in life is to become one, to feel together and to gain such an awareness and understanding for all people in the world with all the rich uniqueness surrounding us that it becomes my nature to love each person and thing around me. I realize how unhappy I am when I become consumed with myself and things that don't bring true happiness. I'm at peace with my life and the world when I remember we are all humans and we can be one. I feel so blessed and connected when I am aware of this truth. . . connection--that's a whole other topic that I'll explore later . . .

On a funny note. . .the other day Soren told me I couldn't do something by saying "No humans, just kids". . .

Little bits and pieces of my life from the past two weeks

Beautiful things we see outside our windows every once in a while. . .




Last weeks obsession: Portuguese Custard Tarts

Conversations of a mom and her boy:

Soren: Little sweet girl's up.
Mom: How do you know she's up?
Soren: Because I'm a great learner?
Mom: Did you go back in my room (where she is sleeping)?
Soren: yes, I had to wash my hands.

He went through the master bedroom where dahlia is sleeping to the master bathroom instead of using his own bathroom. . . but he sure is cute. I really don't know if he really woke her up or if she woke up on her own . . . and I love my little dude.

They have story time at his nursery where they not only tell the wee ones stories but the wee ones can tell their own stories as well. Soren apparently loves this part of the day (according to one of his teachers, he thrives). She told Jason when he was picking Soren up about his story. He told the class that he went to the Ayrshire Farm Park (majorly fun park by the way) and saw camels and monkeys and ate french fries and drank hot chocolate and then came home and threw up in the bathtub. All of this is true. Great story, eh?


I'm dreaming of everything Anthropologie.com today. . .I mean EVERYTHING. . .shabby-chic, bright accents, little birds! I want skirts and hats and drapes with ruffles and no ruffles . . . and I'm still dreaming of Hawaii.

Dahlia is my angel.

Today we went out to the lovely green fields behind our flat and got to breath the cool brisk air. Dahlia likes to sit up while in her buggy which is rather hard for her because it is a laying down buggy (refer to photos below and you can see her sitting up). She's got a tough tummy and doesn't want to miss a thing lying down, thank you.

My trusty clogs that I shall never part with. I'm going to have them resoled sometime soon:


Last weeks snowman. He's gone. Only a carrot is left on the grass.


La foto di growling:


The work of my new little photographer Sorentino (aka soren):

And finally, my favorite pumpkin and strawberry heads together.

Another Art Show

I'm really proud of these elephants that Soren made as representations of our family, especially because I'm the cool looking one with the three spindly legs facing to the left.

The other day I found these art kits for kids that Soren went to town with. Seriously, he was occupied for probably more than an hour creating people and designs. And the glue. . .oh, how he loves to work with glue. The last of these next three photos is my favorite because of the long puff ball arms and little puff ball legs. It makes me happy to see his forms and how his mind works and translates what he's thinking to paper (or whatever he's using).

He had some help with this one ;)

. . . And while we're talking about art I want to post a photo of the lovely blankets Grandma Pat sent for Dahlia. She knitted the ends and they are so cozy and double sided--a real must in this cold weather. There is one more that Dahlia was using at the time I took the photo.

. . .And since I haven't been a good blogger lately, here are some photos of our recent excursion to Jason's school. Sometimes I have great fun owning the whole girlie pink thing with Dahlia--Jacket: compliments of my sister Bridget, Umbrella: compliments of my mom, and lovely Dahlia: compliments of me of course!

Here's one more good one for the road. . .

Baby Dahlia's Blessing Day

Dahlia is a joy!

*Thanks Grandma Pat for the lovely dress.

I've decide I love gray. I love my life. I'm grateful. I just read something that made me embrace what is around me and be thankful for what I have.

Gray Times and Go Bridget!

Gray is all around us having the potential to make me feel gray. A few days ago I embraced it's beauty and their was a mistiness that was even warming. Dahlia was fussy and hadn't taken a decent nap all day so just before 4pm I got the kids ready (Dahlia in the snugly pack) and we walked to the park. I was determined to have her sleep and she did. Soren and I played like old times searching for the Grufalo home and exploring the gardens. We needed that time together and it's a sweet memory. Darkness comes early and sometimes with clearer skies we can see the moon all day. I often marvel at the fact that I'm here and sometimes I get frustrated and angry and dream of sunshine and living in Hawaii (like a 13 year old). But there's really no way of getting around the fact that I live in a gorgeously green country where moms have to bundle their babes up and be ready for rain. I'm going inward and see the beauty in a land that is opposite from the climate where I was raised. Kids aren't free to play outside in the sun all year. So. . . colorful scarves make me happy. Coffee shops are a refuge and good friends and family keep me sane. . . and looking out the window on the train at all the pastures and lochs-- stunning.

My sister Bridget just called to tell me she passed her first exam in law school at the university of Glasgow. She's been stressed to say the least and I'm so incredibly happy for her. In December she had a get-together at her house for her son Atlas' Birthday and invited a fellow student from her program. The girl was a truly nice person and told me how hard the program is. She said if she new how hard it was going to be she didn't think she would have gone into law school! . . which brings me to my sister, who is in this program, with 4 kids!! She's HARDCORE. She always has been. I love her. Go Bridget!!

I haven't posted in a while and I have so much to bloggy blog about. First things first: Charla, Peter and Dries came to town for Christmas! Charla's family is so beautiful. Her little boy Dries is a dream and loves to cuddle. He's a friendly little chap and Soren loved being followed around by him. It made me happy to see them playing together because Dahlia will be crawling around in no time and now I know that Soren will play with her as well.




Unfortunately, we all got sick for the holidays. Jason started it out with bronchitis and then Soren got a cough and a fever for a few days. I held out until after Christmas and then came down with the flu and it was a bad one. These past two weeks were such a rough time for our family as we all tried to get rest but never really felt like we were getting enough. Luckily, Dahlia didn't get sick and stayed happy and healthy. We are all on the mend and I'm so grateful for health! Oh how I love to be healthy.

Here's my little dancing darling. (Matisse, if you see this, don't you just love that arm?)



I asked soren to put his shoes on so he could come with me to take out the trash and he took me literally and only put his shoes on. Then he started break dancing and it was pretty awesome.



This next photos are of Atlas with Dahlia. They are the oldest and youngest of the Ausman family grandchildren. Atlas is so handsome and he's such a good boy--so helpful and kind with all the kids.



And. . .drum roll please. . . Soren went to primary for the first time today! It hit me last week and I started to cry. Soren saw that I was crying and asked "sometimes moms cry when they're happy?" He's starting to understand his mum.

PS. I just finished Siddhartha by Herman Hesse and it was wonderful. It's going on my favorite books list and I was sad it ended. Since there is no way to read these days I listened to it as an audiobook. Friends and fellow countrywomen, it is an awesome book. It made me cry and learn and love. There were many themes and places introduced and then revisited with a fresh and enlightened clarity that I loved. It moved me and made appreciate our interconnectedness. Read it!! If you have already-- did you love it too?